Photo/Illutration An Indonesian worker plants strawberry seedlings at an Ibaraki farm. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Detailed discussions based on objective premises and data are needed in debating and assembling policy.

Consideration must also be given for freedom and human rights.

However, we cannot but hold doubts after listening to the candidates running in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election regarding policy toward foreigners.

The policies espoused by the five—Takayuki Kobayashi, Toshimitsu Motegi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi and Shinjiro Koizumi—mainly place emphasis on strengthening restrictions and making it more difficult for foreigners to enter Japan.

What was particularly disturbing was the speech made by Takaichi at the Sept. 22 event marking the official start of campaigning in which the candidates laid out their basic policy platforms.

She said there were foreign tourists at Nara Park who committed such outrageous acts as kicking the deer there.

When asked later what the basis for that claim was, Takaichi said, “I confirmed it in my own way.”

A comment that simplistically ties the presence of foreigners with offending acts can encourage xenophobic emotions or antagonism and, as such, is extremely problematic.

It is not normal to have such comments appear during the election to choose a politician who could become the next prime minister.

There are likely many Japanese who hold a vague sense of anxiety at the current situation and the future of Japan where foreigners are increasingly prominent, both in the numbers of tourists as well as laborers in various industrial sectors.

But even if there is trouble with local residents because of acts that do not abide by lifestyle habits and community rules, there are cases in which such acts are caused by cultural differences or misunderstandings rather than out of bad intentions.

Foreigners are not the only ones who can cause such trouble.

The government should not place priority on proposals for stricter restrictions and controls that make light of human rights and strengthen a xenophobic mood.

While foreigners now make up about 3 percent of the population in Japan, there are estimates that figure could increase to more than 10 percent in the future.

With the graying of the population and the falling birthrate, daily life and industry could not continue without the presence of foreigners.

If Japan is to become a nation chosen by foreigners, it will be necessary to make further efforts for mutual understanding that overcomes differences in habits and culture and for the central and local governments to continue with policies that support coexistence.

With its “Japanese first” slogan, Sanseito made major gains in the summer Upper House election.

Another troubling spread of a xenophobic mood is the recent decision by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to withdraw its “Africa Hometown” initiative that would have linked four Japanese cities with African nations.

JICA was forced to retract the proposal because of the mistaken impression that it would lead to a flood of immigrants.

It was LDP administrations that decided to increase foreign laborers to deal with personnel shortages as well as to encourage foreign tourists to visit to increase consumption in the communities they travel to.

We ask for discussions from a large and wide perspective that clearly spell out the intention to never allow hate and human rights infringements and which include specific policies and a vision for coexistence with foreigners as members who support the community.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 29

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